NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Among postmenopausal women
receiving adjuvant therapy for early breast cancer, exemestane
is associated with fewer hot flashes than is tamoxifen, but it
also causes more sleep problems, according to a study published
the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

The investigators used questionnaires, completed by more
than 1,500 women to assess 10 common symptoms in the first year
of a clinical trial of tamoxifen or exemestane. Tamoxifen is
sold under the trade name Nolvadex, and exemestane is sold
under the trade name Aromasin.

The patients had completed surgery and chemotherapy for
early breast cancer. All of the women had hormone
receptor-positive cancers, which respond to these two agents.

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Patients who received tamoxifen experienced significantly
more vaginal discharge than those who received exemestane.
Those who received exemestane had more bone and muscle aches,
vaginal dryness, difficulty sleeping and decreased libido.

In both treatment groups, hot flash scores peaked at about
3 months and decreased thereafter. As mentioned, patients in
the tamoxifen group had a significantly higher mean hot flash
score at 12 months than those in the exemestane group.

"These are common complaints and the treatments used make
some worse," Jones commented to Reuters Health. "Oncologists
and other oncology health professionals need to be aware of the
commonplace nature (of these side effects) and attempt to help
wherever possible," he said. For example, he suggested it may
be necessary to treat the hot flashes if they are affecting the
patient's of life.